Early Reader Club: Aligned!

Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders

There are many books on the hard skills of product management, covering user research, roadmaps, agile practice, market assessment, and more. In our experience, though, the soft skill of stakeholder management is the most critical tool for the success of your product and your career. And unfortunately, it’s the least taught. 

We (Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel) are writing the missing reference manual on this critical topic. Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders will show you how to:

  • Build trusting relationships with the people who can make or break your product

  • Optimize your communication for different audiences

  • Get buy-in for your ideas and roadmaps

  • Have stakeholders appreciate you when (and because) you say no

Help us write the best book possible. Join our Early Reader Club, get early access to everything, and be part of something great.

 
 
 
  • A new book excerpt every month. Get an exclusive first look at the content as it is being written. Help shape the definitive book on Stakeholder Management.

  • The chance to add your comments and examples as the book is written. What are we missing?

  • Two community calls every month, optimized for time zones around the world. Get hands-on help with putting the material into practice. We'll explore your questions, share what's working, and work through common challenges.

  • Written summaries of each call. We'll share a written summary of the top challenges and key questions other members are facing, so that you can catch up if you aren't able to attend.

  • See your name in print. Early readers will be mentioned by name in the acknowledgements of the final book.

  • Tell your story. Sign up to be interviewed for the book. Naturally, all quotes we use will be attributed.

  • Digital and signed paper copies of Aligned when it comes out.

  • Early access and preferred pricing for the online course after the book comes out.

  • We meet in a private Slack channel, with Zoom calls.

Membership is strictly limited to 100 participants so we can have real collaboration. Don’t delay signing up. We’d love for you to join us.

We collect payments monthly through Join It (Stripe). Feel free to cancel at any time.

 
 
 

Authors of Aligned

Bruce McCarthy, Founder of Product Culture, helps companies like EGYM, Kaleyra, Localytics, Genomics England, and Socure achieve their product visions through advising, coaching, and workshops. He is President Emeritus of the Boston Product Management Association and a head judge at the annual Harvard Business School New Venture Competition. Bruce co-wrote Product Roadmaps Relaunched: How to Set Direction While Embracing Uncertainty.

 

Melissa Appel has 20 years of experience in product management, UX research, and product design, spanning a variety of industries and company sizes. She is currently Associate Director of Product Management at Wayfair, leading product for end-to-end fulfillment center processes and technology. She led the Mentorship Committee of the Boston Product Management Association for two years and continues to volunteer.